| Sometimes just a few small tasks make all the | | | | excuse. In most cases stolen items can be reclaimed |
| difference between making a few dollars profit on | | | | by their real owners, while Trading Standards have |
| eBay and generating a small fortune each month. | | | | wide-ranging powers to confiscate or withdraw 'iffy' |
| These ideas will help you make more from your | | | | items from sale. That's if eBay doesn't cut you off |
| listings. | | | | sooner. |
| * I find a scanner sometimes produces far better | | | | * Offer a free gift with your products. This helps cut |
| pictures than a digital camera, albeit some items are | | | | competition where your listed product is available from |
| too big or heavy and might damage our delicate | | | | numerous sources. The gift does not have to be |
| equipment. Use it for smaller, lighter items and place | | | | expensive, but it should be unique. Useful examples |
| them gently onto the bed to avoid scratching the | | | | include: a book you've written or compiled yourself; a |
| surface. DO NOT SCAN POINTED ITEMS OR | | | | gift certificate for a discount on other of your products; |
| OTHERS WITH SHARP EDGES - that is a definite | | | | a key ring or other small novelty created especially by |
| shortcut to disaster. | | | | or for your business. |
| * Don't write or price directly and indelibly onto delicate | | | | * Sell 'must have' items eBay sellers needed to run |
| items. For example, write in ink on a stamp or book, | | | | their business and attract regular, repeat business. |
| append a price label onto a second hand toy, tie a tag | | | | Choose products in constant need of replenishment |
| onto a delicate necklace, and value drops drastically. | | | | such as packaging, craftwork materials, jewellery |
| * Do keep items as close to original state as possible. | | | | findings. You'll also find people contacting you to buy |
| For example, leave toys in boxes, book with | | | | outside of eBay which helps keep your listing fees low. |
| dustcovers, sets of postcards in original envelopes, | | | | * From second-hand buying sources like boot sales |
| records in original sleeves. | | | | and flea markets look for multiple same-product items |
| * Do repair what you can without spoiling the item or | | | | in need of repair or renovation. Few people want to |
| reducing its value. Toys, jewellery and most household | | | | repair items themselves so prices will invariably be low |
| goods can be cleaned, clothing can be repaired or | | | | for damaged goods. Take the best parts from each |
| refashioned, marks can be removed from some | | | | item and create one or several perfect or |
| pictures and prints. For rare items like paintings, | | | | near-perfect items to resell. We did this recently with a |
| postcards, stamps, consult an expert or leave it alone. | | | | pair of Black American Money Boxes with movable |
| * Do consider if something can be done to an item to | | | | parts. One box was dirty and paint badly damaged, |
| increase perceived value and price and interest a | | | | with mechanical parts unaffected. The other was |
| wider audience. Prints from early magazines can be | | | | clean and unscratched but the moving bits were |
| removed, cleaned, coloured and framed, for example, | | | | missing. With good bits from each matched and |
| and modern dolls and toys can be touched up and | | | | remodelled the money box made £40 pure |
| combined into multi-item offerings. Stamps are another | | | | profit. |
| good example of items often worth little on their own, | | | | * Make a big thing of proving the authenticity |
| but sorted into themes, say space travel, Disney, Elvis | | | | ('provenance') of your products, by including historical |
| Presley, bagged and priced low, can attract multiple | | | | details in your listing or as a separate document to go |
| bids. | | | | with the product. Or do both and you'll find words used |
| * Do stay within the law or risk fines, imprisonment or a | | | | inside your listing will attract greater search engine |
| possible end to your business for passing off modern | | | | traffic, while the separate document buyers receive |
| goods as antique, intentionally mis-describing goods, | | | | will increase perceived value of your product. |
| trading in stolen items. 'Ignorance of the law' is no | | | | |